Crawley Town V Colchester at Broadfield Stadium : Match Preview

30 December 2012 05:31

Crawley boss Richie Barker could make changes as when Colchester visit the Broadfield Stadium.

The Red Devils were comfortably beaten 2-0 at Bournemouth and the manager hinted at changes after the game.

"There were a few players out there who did not work hard enough," he said. "One or two did not step up to the mark, maybe it was because of tiredness."

Barker expects a reaction from his players as Town aim to win a first home league game since October against struggling Colchester.

Defender Kyle McFadzean is expected to be missing through illness once more, but Baker has no new injury worries.

Jonte Smith is looking to build on his first 11 minutes of Football League action he received on Saturday while Billy Clarke, Sergio Torres and John Akinde are pushing for inclusion.

Colchester are without suspended defender Josh Thompson.

Thompson was unavailable for the game against Swindon, but after the fixture was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, the one-match ban will now come into effect, ruling the 21-year-old out of the game at Broadfield Stadium.

Magnus Okuonghae is the likely candidate to earn a recall in the centre of defence, after he played 77 minutes as a substitute in the Boxing Day defeat at Brentford.

The U's have Freddie Sears available after he missed the Bees clash with a dead leg.

Anthony Wordsworth was dropped from the 16-man squad completely on Boxing Day, and he could be left out of the travelling party again against the Reds.